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A 'wheelie' amazing challenge completed

A father who took on a 300-mile cycle challenge in memory of his five-month-old son has raised £10,400 for our hospice.

During June, as a lasting tribute to his son, Percy, Adam Higgins and his workmates Nick Dimblebee and Paul Riley, saddled up and cycled from London to Paris.

Percy, known to his parents Adam and Sarah and four-year-old brother Douglas as “Percy Perfect”, was born with a congenital heart defect and an extra chromosome. In April last year, at just one-week-old, Adam and Sarah were told their son’s condition was inoperable and brought him to our hospice for end of life care.

Percy, of Walcote, sadly lost his fight for life in September.

As a lasting tribute, plasterers Adam, Nick and Paul - who called themselves Plasterers to Paris, cycled 300 miles from capital to capital over five days.

Adam was staggered with the amount raised. “I didn’t want to keep checking the fundraising page until we got to Paris,” he said. “When I looked and saw it was over £10,000, I just cried.

“I had a few tears when I was on my own and at the end of the event because I did it for Percy and I did it for Rainbows.

“Percy was such a happy, bubbly little boy, I know he would be proud. Rainbows will always have a special place in my heart. You worry that a hospice will be a dark place but it is totally the opposite and everyone is so nice.”

Instead of settling down for a rest, Adam’s next challenge will be to take on the London Marathon.

“After losing Percy, I was inspired to raise money,” said Adam. “I wanted to do it for Percy and I wanted to do it to give something back to Rainbows and I want to do more.

“It was a fantastic experience, although very challenging. There were 48 people in our group and it was great. We laughed and joked our way through. I am almost disappointed it is over. It was really well organised. There were water stops and food stops and in the evenings we stayed in hotels. There was great mechanical support and the crew were so helpful and the scenery was just so beautiful.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported or sponsored me, I have been totally overwhelmed by it all. I couldn’t have done this with two better people either, we have a stronger friendship.”